Coalition Kills al Qaeda Leader Who Coordinated Foreign Terrorists in Iraq (Another One Down!)

American Forces Press Service ^ | Fred W. Baker III

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2007 – A top al Qaeda leader who coordinated efforts of foreign terrorists in Iraq was killed this week, a senior official in the region announced today. (Video)

A photo released by Multinational Corps Iraq officials of foreign al Qaeda leader Abu Usama al-Tunisi, who was killed Sept. 25 in an air strike on a building south of Baghdad. Courtesy photo  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Abu Usama al-Tunisi, a foreigner who brought al Qaeda terrorists into Iraq, was killed Sept. 25 in an air strike on a building south of Baghdad where he was meeting with other al Qaeda operatives, Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson, Multinational Corps Iraq’s chief of staff, said in a briefing to reporters in the Pentagon.

The meeting was near Musayyib, in Babil province, about 35 miles south of Baghdad. An Air Force F-16 bombed the building. A video provided by defense officials shows a large explosion and the building leveled. Two other al Qaeda members were killed in the blast, and two were detained, Anderson said.

Tunisi was a close associate, and part of the inner circle of advisors to Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the overall leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Anderson said. Officials believe he may have been tapped to succeed Masri.

Originally from Tunisia, Tunisi was the emir of foreign terrorists in Iraq, responsible for overseeing foreign terrorists’ movements into Iraq and partnering them with terrorist cells. More than 80 percent of suicide bombings are carried out by foreign terrorists, Anderson said.

Tunisi has been operating in Yusufiyah, southwest of Baghdad, since November 2004 and became emir of the area in 2006. Tunisia’s group is believed responsible for the June 2006 kidnappings of two U.S. soldiers who later were found dead.

Anderson said Tunisi’s death was the culmination of a series of operations that began Sept. 12 when coalition forces captured a close associate to Tunisi. During the following days, forces ramped up operations and detained several other key associates of Tunisi in separate operations south and west of Baghdad. One was said to have identified Tunisi at the meeting, Anderson said.

The two others killed were Abu Abdullah, reported to be the new emir of the southern part of Baghdad’s Karkh region, and Sheikh Hussein, an al Qaeda in Iraq facilitator, Anderson said.

A handwritten letter found at the site indicated that Tunisi’s operations were cut off by coalition forces in the area and that he was trying to get direction from leaders, Anderson said.

“We are so desperate for your help,” the letter reads.

“This was a dangerous terrorist who is no longer a part of al Qaeda in Iraq,” Anderson said. “His death deals a significant blow to their operation.”

Abu Yakub al-Masri, another inner-circle leader, was killed Aug. 31 near Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad. Of Abu Ayyub al-Masri's inner circle of four foreign leaders, only two remain at large, Anderson said.

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!

Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.

[kinoxi]

Kill em all..

[billmor]

Next : al-Masri

” http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/3/38/Al-masri.jpg “

[fso301]

Certainly is a great way to end the week

[yldstrk]

Another one bites the dust!

[DieHard the Hunter]

Surely the troops must be nearly reaching their Bag Limit? Anyone checked their licenses recently?

Does anyone maintain a trophy room where we can see photos of these exotic critters?

[SandRat]

No, they have no bag limit.

No, their service gives them licenses valid while in the area.

If there is no one is talking.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> No, they have no bag limit.

Like possums, feral cats and other varmints, I guess. Probably too ugly for a trophy room, anyrate. Well, chalk another one up for the troops. Hope someone is at least keeping score...?

(Lucifer maybe... “Hey Luc, how many on your team now?”)

[sruleoflaw]

Could YOU ALL tell this news to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — who ripped President Bush for the war on terrorism? I am disgusted with Mr. Huckabee; he now belongs in the Chuck Hagel class.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

WANTED: Young man to do exciting work for well-known international organization. Rapid promotion likely! Opportunities to travel, sometimes even several directions at once. 72 fringe benefits. Contact Abdul Muhammad Mustafa Aziz at Baghdad 829-8291 283-8292 902-2938 820-3829. Must provide contact information for next of kin.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Sorry, should’ve added “Critical thinking skills not required.”

[Eddie01]

It’s not a photo. It is a computer generated image.

...although I suppose I could be wrong.

not saying anyones lying, but something sure seem odd with the photo.

[shield]

That guy looks like a kid. HA...if this is all they have to offer as a leader...WOW...bottom fishin’...

[SandRat]

Not a photo, “Police Artist Rendering.” Something tells me even his own mother couldn’t recognize what is where his face was now.

[Eddie01]

I guess the “police artist” skipped “ears” class.

[SandRat]

He’s got ears, they just are well laid back.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Could YOU ALL tell this news to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — who ripped President Bush for the war on terrorism? I am disgusted with Mr. Huckabee; he now belongs in the Chuck Hagel class.

Can’t say I disagree about Huckabee. But a more useful thing to do would be to tell all the Good Ol’ Boys that there’s NO BAG LIMIT OPEN SEASON on al Qaeda and Taliban varmints in Iraq and Afghanistan — and some of ‘em even carry a bounty! The varmints will even self-identify by shootin’ first.

[W04Man]

This article has the YouTube video of the airstrike:

Air Strike Video here